Nov 14, 2013 8:38 AM

These photos were taken yesterday, at a house in Reading, Berkshire. Could someone please help to confirm the identity of this particular spider. With my very poor and limited knowledge it does appear to be similar to one of the false black widow species; But I could be wrong?

This looks to be Steatoda grossa, the cupboard spider, yes it's one of the false widow species. A little more widespread than the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) but a relatively shy spider that seems to avoid areas of high human activity, preferring quieter and/or darker areas.

As MWJB says it's a female of Steatoda grossa, they will live comfortably in cooler parts of our homes including beneath kitchen cupboards and appliances, but females rarely venture from there. Otherwise sheds, garages and piles of garden clutter are where these live.

We do have the Noble False Widow, Steatoda nobilis, in Reading (it's where I live also) but I think the only records are my own and they are for a house on Basingstoke Road and my own home in north Earley, but it is more widespread in the area than this.

For more info. on this group of spiders please see the following links: